In Nevada, people are preparing to start going back to work next week. This week, I have been helping some of my teacher friends with designing their classrooms and making the most out of what is sometimes awkward space. So I wanted to give some tips that may be useful to you as you enter your classroom for the first time or you decide to reorganize your space.
1. Make the most of your space!! I have been in all size rooms to mansion size rooms to cracker jack boxes, the key to being successful is making the most of what you have. It is okay to build up! My friend today is moving into a portal classroom. This limits her wall space a bit and she will be teaching first grade. Her idea was to make a space for students to enjoy carpet time, especially for phonics. This was possible but she had to make the most of her space.
2. What about your seating? Depending on what grade you teach, you want to create seats that benefit the classroom. It blows my mind how I see some teachers choose not to have all students facing the front. Whatever you do with your seating, all students MUST face the front of the room. If you plan do cooperative learning, it is smart to get your students use to this from the very start, they can sit in groups of 4 or 5. Anymore than this can be somewhat distracting. If you have older students, you can start with rows until they are finished diagnostic testing then put them in groups....can you tell I like groups?
3. Don't take everyone's advice! Another friend of mine came over today and was telling me all the stuff her assistant principal was telling her to put on the walls to make it effective. The assistant principal suggested a math wall, a language arts wall, daily five centers tracker, concept board, and word wall. Well, there are only 4 walls in a classroom, so how can you put this much stuff up?! It is important that your classroom is authentic to you. I like to put up vocabulary/spelling words in a focus board, I like to put reminder posters around the classroom and positive quote posters. I like a board that changes each week, I also like a data wall. Finally I like to have a coach's corner. I think of myself as the student's coach so the coach's corner is my all about me board and includes photos of me and my family so students feel like they are getting to know me through my pictures.
4. It does not have to cost a fortune. I am a huge hoarder when it comes to buying school supplies. I love buying borders, pencils, paper, glue sticks, rulers, tape dispensers, posters, and everything in between but you do not have to be like me. Students will appreciate what you have to offer, not how much money you spend on decorating your class. Teachers Pay Teachers is a great resource for design around the classroom. The dollar store also has great resources and baskets. I am a great hunter of deals at Target as well.
Do you have an awkward shaped classroom that needs help? Let me know, I love to help organize classrooms.
